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Local News

  • CRA discusses downtown

    Williston's Community Redevelopment Agency lacked a quorum at its Monday meeting, but the attending members discussed upcoming business nonetheless.

    The CRA's Feb. 11 meeting is to be conducted as a workshop to produce an updated plan. The CRA had agreed with David Connolly, Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council Senior Planner, that the document, produced in 2002, was in need of revision, based on progress thus far and on costs of materials and services which have, of course, risen since the inception of the plan.

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  • Local voters not in step with state

    Levy County's voters did not go exactly like the rest of Florida's constituents, but the votes were similar overall.

    With 100 percent of the votes counted in Levy County by 9 p.m. on Jan. 29, Hillary Clinton took 40.64 percent (2,235) of the Democrats' votes and John McCain garnered 31.44 percent (1,102) of the Republicans' votes, according to Supervisor of Elections Connie Asbell.

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  • Court rules exotic animal ordinance constitutional

    By MARK SCOHIER

    news2@chieflandcitizen.com

    A Levy County criminal court ruled in a Tuesday hearing that the county’s ordinance on keeping exotic animals does not violate Florida’s Constitution.

    The issue of the ordinance potentially being unconstitutional was brought before Circuit 8 Judge James T. Browning by Defense Attorney Moises Kaba III, who was representing Brian R. Davis, of Morriston, on a citation issued by county code enforcement with regard to class 1 exotic animals being kept on his property.

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  • Appraiser concludes amendment explanations

    Levy County Property Appraiser Francis Akins recently sent the fourth of four parts of information concerning the proposed 2007 Property Tax Reform Legislation, which will become a constitutional amendment if 60 percent or more of the Florida voters approve it via the Jan. 29 ballot.

    The fourth part deals with what is called the "Non-Homestead Property 10 Percent Cap."

    The proposed constitutional amendment would make an exemption available to owners of real property who do not have a homestead exemption or an agriculture use assessment on the property, Akins said.

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  • City workers vote for union

    City of Williston employees have voted by a wide margin to affiliate themselves with the AFSCME union.

    The vote was 27 for unionization, four against and 14 not voting.

    The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, describes itself as "the nation's largest and fastest growing public service employees union."

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  • New City Hall plan moves to next step

    The face of downtown Williston may soon change more dramatically than it has in recent months.

    Walgreens will open in the spring, of course, and the new Williston Business Plaza on South Main Street is already full. Work will soon begin on the block of Linear Park in front of City Hall - which may not be city hall for very long.

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  • Akins ordered to release records

    Circuit Court Judge David Glant ordered Levy County Property Appraiser Francis Akins to "show good cause" why the court should not force him to hand over public records.

    The order to show cause was issued Jan. 4 and it gives Akins 15 days to respond. The judge's order follows a petition from Anthony Phillips, a deputy clerk in the civil circuit division who is running against Akins for property appraiser.

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  • CRA concentrates on facade improvements

    Williston's CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) is encouraging downtown businesses to spruce up with the help of facade improvement grants, which will total $10,000 for this year alone.

    The thrust of the effort is to restore the historic feel of downtown Williston by returning core buildings to their original appearance.

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  • League of Cities opposes amendment

    The Florida League of Cities has issued the following information in opposition to the proposed property tax amendment.

    Amendment #1: Why It's Wrong for Florida

    BACKGROUND: The membership of the Florida League of Cities recently passed a resolution to OPPOSE the proposed property tax constitutional amendment on the Jan. 29 ballot.

    What the Amendment Does

    The proposed constitutional amendment does four things:

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  • Cason won't run, Hager, Holloway seek his spot; Shoemaker, Hethcoat elected

    Williston’s city council will have new look in the spring.

    The qualifying period ended at noon on Friday, Jan.18, and brought with it a major surprise. Longtime councilman James "Jake" Cason will not compete to retain his Group E seat.

    Candidates for that position are Lindsey Hager and Brooks Holloway, former city manager.

    The Group D seat being vacated by Jerry Robinson, who is running for county commissioner, will go by default to Michael Shoemaker, a relative newcomer to the community. Shoemaker is the only candidate for the seat.

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The Williston Pioneer is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Levy County and Williston, Fl, and the surrounding area.